Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks Bearing the Name Pacific Western Bank, Rosemead, California, are Reportedly in Circulation

Pacific Western Bank, San Diego, California, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 122238200, which is assigned to Pacific Western Bank, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display the words “Cashier's Check” in the top center, and the bank's name and “Rosemead, Ca” appear in the top-left corner. A padlock is embedded in the right border between vertical security feature statements. Brackets containing the payee name and the statement “VOID AFTER 90 DAYS” are shown in the lower-left corner.

Authentic cashier's checks display the words “Cashier's Check” in script font in the lower-left corner. The bank's logo, name and “Santa Monica, CA 90407-2209” appear in the top center. A security feature statement in script font is printed below the written dollar amount line.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic cashier's check (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware that the appearance of counterfeit items can be modified and that additional variations may be presented.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Susan Thomas
Vice President and Operations Officer
Pacific Western Bank
21600 Oxnard Street, Suite 270
Woodland Hills, California 91367
Telephone: (818) 610-2773
Fax: (818) 703-6416
E-mail: sthomas@pwbonline.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Questions related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2008/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Sandra L. Thompson
Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection